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THE AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT YEARBOOK EDITION 24 • 13
AROUND THE NATION
Victoria's recent council elections saw 323 new
councillors elected across the state -- joining 314
returning councillors. And the election of 243
women to council, or 38.15 per cent of councillors,
means that, pleasingly, Victoria now leads the
nation in having the largest percentage of female
councillors.
What an exciting and busy time it is to become part of
local government.
We secured a major win recently, when the state
government announced new planning fees that will provide a
fairer system after years of inequality.
Previously, applicant fees in Victoria only covered about
20--30 per cent of the planning costs that councils face, but the
new model will raise that to 60--70 per cent. The fees will also
be annually indexed, which will ensure that costs are borne by
applicants rather than ratepayers.
The Municipal Association of Victoria's (MAV) submission
to the review called on the state government to adopt
councils' preferred option -- and it was pleasing that it was the
option subsequently adopted. This new model is projected
to generate an additional $40 million in fees to councils each
year. At a time when budgets are tight and rates are capped at
two per cent, those extra fees will be welcomed.
Rate capping is having a significant impact on council
budgets, with many likely to struggle to meet their community
service and asset renewal obligations this year.
The MAV continues to be busy campaigning against rate
capping. We have led a strong media campaign highlighting
state government double standards of restricting councils to a
two-per-cent rise while state property taxes rose by 5.2 per cent,
and state employee expenses increased by 7.8 per cent. Plus, we
have provided resources to councils to help them explain the
impact of rate capping to their communities.
Achieving wins in Victoria
By Coral Ross, Interim President, Municipal Association of Victoria